Pipes that dripped acid 'have leaked for a year'

One of the unsung heroes of Wednesday's acid leak in North Point yesterday urged the building's owners to fix leaking pipes to prevent similar accidents. The call came as the woman who caused the accident was released on bail.

Butcher Kwan Tim-lang, 70, runs a meat stall at the Tong Shui Road building where more than 20 people were burnt on Wednesday.

After discovering acid was dripping from the building, Mr Kwan blocked the pavement with a rubbish bin, and other merchants gave victims water to wash off the acid.

The accident happened when a 29-year-old woman living on the third floor poured acid into pipes to clear a blockage.

The butcher said leaks had been occurring over the past year at the 49-year-old building. He believed they were caused by a flat owner dividing a unit - where the arrested woman lives - into several suites.

'The flat owners should repair or replace their leaking pipes,' he said. 'It's OK if it's just dripping water, but it was dripping acid this time. The acid is very strong, as you can see, even the metal ashtray on the bin has turned black.'